The Western Hockey League champion Seattle Thunderbirds have five players – Jarret Tyszka, Turner Ottenbreit, Nolan Volcan, Austin Strand and Sami Moilanen – taking part in NHL training camps this year.
Tyszka, a defenseman, joined the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday to take part in the team’s rookie camp and rookie tournament. The Habs selected Tyszka in the fifth round, 149th overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Tyszka had six goals and 19 assists in 54 games for the T-Birds last season. During the 2017 playoffs, he played in all 20 games and recorded two goals and five assists for seven points. In two seasons with the T-Birds, Tyszka has 31 points on nine goals and 22 assists in 102 games
Ottenbreit, a defenseman, was invited to the Anaheim Ducks training camp that includes the Sept. 9-12 Prospect Showcase in San Jose with the host Sharks, Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche.
During the 2016-17 season, Ottenbreit played in 71 games and registered seven goals and 25 assists for 32 points with 92 penalty minutes. He played in all 20 playoff games, recording three goals and six assists for nine points.
Volcan, a left wing, is participating in the reigning Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins training camp. Volcan will be with the Penguins throughout the weekend and Monday for the Prospects Challenge at Harbor Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Volcan attended the Penguins development camp this past summer.
Volcan played in 64 games and registered 16 goals and 28 assists for 44 points with 71 penalty minutes for the T-Birds last season. In the playoffs, Volcan played in all 20 games and had five goals and two assists for seven points. Over three seasons, Volcan has played in 193 career T-Birds games and has 41 goals and 57 assists for 98 points.
Strand has been training with the Edmonton Oilers , who will participate in the Young Stars Classic in Penticton, British Columbia.
Strand, a defenseman, came to the T-Birds in a trade with the Red Deer Rebels in December 2016. With the T-Birds, Strand played in 36 regular season games and all 20 playoff games. During the regular season, Strand recorded eight goals and nine assists for 17 points with 62 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, he registered four goals and 10 assists for 14 points with 34 penalty minutes.
Moilanen is participating in the Avalanche’s training camp. He played in 70 regular season games and all 20 playoff games for the Thunderbirds last season. During the regular season, Moilanen registered 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points with 33 penalty minutes. During the playoff run, he recorded seven goals and nine assists for 16 points.
The preseason continues for the T-Birds at the Red Lion Hotels’ Preseason Tournament at the Toyota Center in Kennewick. The T-Birds will begin the tournament at 3 p.m. Friday against the Spokane Chiefs. Tournament play will conclude Saturday with a matchup against the Kootenay Ice at 11 a.m.
Single-game tickets are on sale online and at the ShoWare Center box office. Season tickets can be purchased by calling the T-Birds office at 253-239-7825.
